Mixed-Income's Anticipated and Realized Benefits

Mixed-income housing and neighborhoods are commonly advanced as a method of alleviating the harms of concentrated poverty and achieving urban revitalization. A 2013 literature review, published in Cityscape, clarifies the hypothesized benefits of mixed-income communities, examines the state of the evidence, and considers potential next steps for reducing economic segregation.

The hypothesized benefits of mixed-income living have included poverty alleviation, increased property values, an increased tolerance for diversity for residents of all incomes, and improved housing quality, services, and neighborhood conditions for lower-income residents. The evidence generally supports the hypotheses regarding neighborhood improvements, but not those related to social interaction and poverty alleviation.

Major findings:

Economic desegregation does not, on its own, lead to meaningful interactions between neighbors across economic groups.

Community events and facilities may reinforce socioeconomic divisions if one income group feels more of a claim on the space.

Relationships between residents may change over time, either as residents become more comfortable with each other or as residents give up and retreat to their comfort zones.

Mixed-income communities have not generates the hypothesized improvements in economic well-being for low-income households. While some evidence suggests an increase in employment, the evidence is weak at best about income benefits.

Achieving economic improvements will likely require changes in school quality, job supports, and other factors. Benefits may also accrue over a longer period of time than previously studied.

Moving to a mixed-income community appears to have psychological benefits for low-income residents, namely in mental health improvements and the reduction of stress related to neighborhood safety concerns.

Children may experience educational, health, and behavioral benefits from moving to a lower-poverty or income-diverse area.

Recommendations:

Mixed-income communities offer low-income households an improved sense of safety and security, but intentional and specific services and supports are necessary for addressing poverty.

The design of the public space may increase residents' interactions.

If resident organizations are structured to serve separate community populations, resident interactions across socioeconomic status are likely to be impeded.

Grocery stores and other resources in the surrounding area create additional opportunities for resident interaction.

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